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Jury in trial of four view bodycam footage of Strokestown eviction

Summary

The trial of Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martina Baxter. The four men, who have pleaded not guilty to a total of 53 charges, are accused of participating in an attack during the Strokestown repossession case. The State alleges that on December 16, 2018, a group armed with various weapons assaulted four security guards, caused criminal damage, committed aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, arson, robbery, and animal cruelty. Each defendant is separately charged with 17 of these offences. During cross-examination, witness Ian Gordon, who testified to being forced to eat dog faeces, identified himself in bodycam footage from an eviction five days prior to the alleged assaults. Gordon stated his unlicensed security company was hired to execute a court order at the McGann family property. He described lifting a resident out of a seat to escort him out, denying any use of reinforced knuckle gloves or physical abuse beyond necessary restraint. The jury viewed this footage, which showed the resident being moved while his sister protested. The trial is ongoing and will resume on Monday.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury in trial of four view bodycam footage of Strokestown eviction. Charges or matters: a total of 53 charges. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• December 2018 Incident
• December 16, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
• December 11 Incident
• 2023-03-02 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Burglary Stage Sentence Theft

Related court reports

• Strokestown assault conviction overturned by High Court
• Strokestown eviction vigilante fails in appeal against 15-year sentence
• 'You are denying me my human rights': Strokestown vigilante walks out of appeal
• 'The most barbaric violations of human rights': Strokestown eviction vigilantes to remain in jail
• Strokestown eviction vigilantes appeal convictions
• 11.5 years for father who 'poisoned' daughter's youth with years of rape and abuse

Read the original CNI report